STORE SPACES

Meijer plans to open its smallest urban store yet — but with a twist.   The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocer’s newest store will be nearly 30,000 sq. ft., but it won’t feature the Meijer moniker. Instead, the store will go by the name, Bridge Street Market. Construction begins in July, and is expected to be open for business in the early fall of 2018.  

A digitally native organic baby and toddler's clothing brand has opened its second brick-and-mortar location.    Monica + Andy has opened its first store in New York City, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The brand was launched online in 2014 by new mom Monica Royer, sister of Andy Dunn, co-founder of Bonobos, the online menswear brand that is rapidly growing its physical store footprint. It features clothing made of kid-friendly fabrics that are free of lead, phthalates and flame-retardants.  

Ikea’s next solar-powered store is in the works.   The home furnishings giant’s future Jacksonville, Florida store, slated to open in the fall, will be the newest location to feature a solar power system. Panel installation will begin this summer, and is expected to be complete by early fall. This will be Ikea’s fifth solar array in the state of Florida, according to the retailer.  

Convenience-store giant 7-Eleven is opening a store that allows customers to pay simply with a wave of their hand.  

Hudson’s Bay Co.’s is taking advantage of the views and design of its iconic Calgary building in a new way.   Through a partnership with restaurant group Oliver & Bonacini, the retailer is transforming the entire sixth floor of its 104-year-old building into an event venue. The 18,000-sq.-ft. space, called The Hudson, features meeting rooms on either side of a large common area, and two large event spaces that can accommodate up to 700 people, according to The Calgary Herald.  

As H&M braces for the opening of its first Arket store, it is already putting a plan in motion for its second location.   The fast-fashion chain announced in March that is plans to launch its new brand, Arket, in early fall. Arket, H&M’s first new brand in three years, will feature merchandise men, women and children, and a smaller, curated assortment of home goods.  

An online clothing brand best known for its signature shirts that are designed to be worn untucked is going to open at Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minnesota.    Untuckit will open a 1,300-sq.-ft. outpost  at the giant mall this fall. It will be the company's first store in Minnesota, and carry shirts for both men and women.      

Retailers looking to bring customers in the door need to upgrade the shopping experience with added amenities.    That's according to JLL, whose new report examines how brick-and-mortar retailers can deliver in-store experiences and brand loyalty through added amenities.  The report, JLL’s Retail Amenities Guide, notes that  today's shoppers have countless options when it comes to where they can buy, leaving retailers with fewer opportunities to create brand converts.